St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-27
TWO POKER STORIES.
The Gentleman Who Discards the
M Ace of Diamonds Repents 1t.

Correspondence New York Clipper.
Several years ago was travelling for
a well-known house on a commission
only, although my expenses were
paid. At the time l was almost desper-
ate for the want of money. To add to
my woes, my wife was very sick, and
the recent death of my mother had
taken every cent had saved to pay for
the funeral expenses. My last trip had
been wretched one, and | had sold
same time l had made large collections
for the firm Oh old accounts.
sin my wallet l had little over 81 900
belonging to the firm. Early in the
evening had taken several drinks to
cheer me up, and when, little later, a
game of poker was proposed, L willingly
made one of the party, reckleSSly feel
ing that if l lost $25 I would not be
much worse Off. We started in at 81
ante and $40 limit, and, having good
luck, L soon ran my small stake up to
S1O0. Meantime the game grew hotter
and the limit had been raised to $50,
All the players except myself were men
able to lose 81, 600 and never wink even;
but of course they did not know own
Straitened circumstances.
IAN hour after midnight we agreed to
play farewell Jackpot and quit. Each
man put up $50, which made the pot $3.50
to start with, as there were five of us.
The cards were dealt several times, and
none of us had openers. AT last the man
ahead of me and next to the dealer
opened the pot for $50 note. | looked
at my cards and found three aces, but
simply stayed, not wishing to drive
nfI, no nj faft
the richest man of the party, saw the
opening bet and raised another fifty.
The next two dropped out, and the
opener simply called the raise. Then it
was my turn and | hesitated, for | was
in frightful quandary. My own funds
were not sufficient to enable me to call,
and until that moment l had never
thought of using the firms funds.
From a dreadful mental struggle I
was recalled to the fact that | must do
something, by the dealer saying: Come,
come, x =! Say something. | want to help
the cards and go to bed In moment [
ruin OF brighter hopes. unbuttoned
my coat, and. drawing out the wallet
with the firms money i'll it, laid $50 of
my employers money on the table. 1t
was the supreme moment of my life; it
was my first dishonest act-if boyiSh
thefts on orchards don't count-yet |
was as cool as had ever been in my eX-
istence. The opener drew two cards,
and, knowing had him beaten,
too, took two. The third
man, took none. His standing
pat made me shudder, for 1 was now
looking dishonor in the face. The orig
inal opener scanned his cards carefully.
and then, in confident manner, bet
$50. That he had filed was morally GER
tain; but, having gone toe far to recede,
1Icalled him, mechanically without even
looking at my draw. Fifty dollars more
than yOu,' said the player next to me,
the opener heSitated, and then simply
called the last raise. Hopelessly L
looked at my draw. The first card was
the fwo-spot of hearts, and with feel
ing Of despair L looked at the next. 1t
wasian ace of spades. L knew I.had
red faces. The reyulsiOn of feeling
made me faint, and hastily gulped
down glass of settler near me. My
knees knocked together under the table
but managed to get out a hundred-dol-
lar bill and announce that | raised the
pot $50 more. The pat man imme-
diately raised me $50. The opener now
laid down his hand, remarking that he
had no further business in the deal.
My single opponent looked me over
carefully and said:
".You can bet $3.50, if you want to,
allowing me the privilege of like
raise | bet him the full $3.50, and he
promptly raised me like sum- saw
the bet and went $3.50 harder. My OBJ
ponent hesitated, and then said good
naturally:
Enough is as good as feast, and l
wont press you too hard; so FL CALL
SAT the same time he laid down four
queens and reached for the pot. When
l showed my four aces lie was the most
surprised man ycu ever saw, but with
out word he rose from the table and
left the room. l never touched card
since, for had determined to kill my
self had lOSt.o